Material distributing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A material-distributing apparatus for use on a vehicle having a material supply hopper, which material-distributing apparatus includes a cross conveyor having an intermediate inlet communicating with the supply hopper and first and second oppositely directed conveyor sections which are shiftable relative to the supply hopper, from a position feeding material from the inlet to relatively opposite sides of the vehicle, to shifted positions in which material is fed to only one or the other side of the vehicle. Spreaders are provided at each side of the vehicle for spreading material fed thereto by the cross conveyor and the spreaders are maintained in a fixed position while the conveyor is shifted.

mite States atent [72] lnvcntor Victor H. Gruben 2,511,514 6/1950Rosselot 239/664 Roghelle 11 2,743,932 /1956 Wester 239/664 1 PP 826,621Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood, Jr. 1 Med May 1969 AssistantExaminer.lohn J. Love Patfifmed AuorneyMcCanna, Morsbach, Pillote & Muir[73] Assignee Swenson Spreader 8: Mfg. Co.

Lindenwood, ill. a corporation of Illinois [54] APPARATUS ABSTRACT: Amaterial-distributing apparatus for use on a g g vehicle having amaterial supply hopper, which material-dis- [52] US. Cl 239/664, ib iaratu includes a cross conveyor having an inter- 239/673, 239/682,198/21 mediate inlet communicating with the supply hopper and first [51] Int. Cl A016 17/00 d cond qppgsitdy directed conveyor sections whichare Field of 176, shiftable relative to the supply hopper, from aposition feeding q 672, 9 material from the inlet to relatively oppositesides of the vehil l q cle, to shifted positions in which material isfed to only one or the other side of the vehicle. Spreaders are providedat each [56] References Cted side of the vehicle for spreading materialfed thereto by the UNITED STATES PATENTS cross conveyor and theSpreaders are maintained in a fixed 1,940,008 12/ 1 933 Mosgrove 239/664position while the conveyor is shifted.

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MATERIAL DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It isheretofore been proposed, as disclosed in the US. Pat. to Lutz No.2,099,369, to provide a cross conveyor on a vehicle having oppositelydirected conveyor sections for feeding material simultaneously to a pairof laterally spaced discharge outlets. Such an apparatus is operative tofeed material simul taneously to both discharge outlets, but problemsare encountered if an attempt is made to feed material selectively toonly one or the other of the discharge outlets. In the apparatusdisclosed in that patent, discharge of material from only one outlet canonly be effected by closing of the the other outlet. However, if one ofthe discharge outlets in Lutz is closed to prevent discharge of materialfrom one outlet, the oppositely directed feed conveyors would still tendto feed the material toward the other discharge outlet and cause thematerial to build up and compact in that area.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In distributing material from a vehicle it issometimes desirable to spread material from one side of the vehicle, forexample when spreading sand, salt to the like on a multiplelane highwaywhere the vehicle is travelling adjacent one side of the highway, and atother times it is desirable to spread material simultaneously from bothsides of the vehicle, for example on a highway where the vehicle istravelling down a path generally centrally of the highway. Thematerial-distributing apparatus includes a cross conveyor havingoppositely directed flights for simultaneously feeding material from thematerial supply hopper to lateral discharge outlets at both sides of thevehicle, and which cross conveyor is shiftable in a direction crosswiseof the vehicle to effect feeding of material from the supply hopper toonly one side of the vehicle.

An important object of this invention is to provide amaterial-distributing apparatus for a vehicle which is operable to feedmaterial from a supply hopper simultaneously to both sides of thevehicle or selectively to only one side of the vehicle.

Another object of this invention is to provide a material-distributingapparatus for use on a vehicle in which a pair of material spreaders aremounted on the vehicle in a preselected relation to the vehicle and inwhich a cross conveyor is mounted for shifting movement relative to thevehicle and to the spreaders to enable delivery of material eithersimultaneously to both spreaders or alternatively to only one of thespreaders.

Another object of this invention is to provide a material-distributingapparatus for a vehicle having an improved arrangement for mounting andsupporting the cross conveyor for shifting movement relative to thevehicle.

These, together with other objects and advantages of this invention willbe more readily understood by reference to the following detaileddescription when taken into connection with the accompanying drawingswherein:

FIG. I is a side elevational view of a vehicle having the spreaderapparatus of the present invention mounted thereon;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the plane 2-2of FIG. 3;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the plane 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary end elevational view of the cross conveyor takenon the plane 4-4 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the plane 5-5of FIG. 4 and showing the parts on a larger scale; and

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the cross conveyor and thehydraulic controls therefore.

The material'distributing apparatus of the present invention isgenerallyadapted for use on vehicles and is herein shown applied to a truck-typevehicle 10, it being understood that the distributing apparatus couldalso be applied to trailer-type vehicles. As shown, the truck 10includes the usual frame II supported on ground-engaging wheels 12.motor 13 and cab 14. A material storage hopper I5 is mounted on thevehicle and is preferably of the type having a longitudinal conveyormeans 16 for feeding material lengthwise to the vehicle to a dischargeoutlet 17 (FIG. 3). The hopper illustrated herein is of the V-box typehaving downwardly converging walls 15a terminating at the lower ends inspaced channels 1511. A bottom wall I5c extends between the channels tosupport the material in the hopper and the conveyor I6 is arranged toadvance material along the bottom wall to the discharge opening I7. Inthe embodiment shown, the conveyor is of the endless type and includeslongitudinally spaced slats 16a attached to conveyor chains 16b, theconveyor chains being entrained over sprockets 22 at opposite ends ofthe hopper. One pair of sprockets are connected to a conveyor driveshaft 23 conveniently driven by an hydraulic motor 24 through a speedreducer 25.

The hopper discharge opening I7 can be located at either the front orrear side of the hopper, as desired, and is herein shown located at theforward end. A feed control gate 28 is mounted on the hopper forcontrolling the depth of the material advanced by the conveyor 16through the discharge opening. The feed control gate is herein shownslidably mounted in guides 29 attached to the hopper for adjustmenttoward and away from the conveyor 16 and a means such as a screw 31operable by a crank 32 is provided for selectively raising and loweringthe gate 28.

As shown in FIG. 1, the hopper 15 is mounted as by rails 33 on thevehicle frame 11 with the conveyor channels ISb spaced above the vehicleframe. A cross conveyor 41 is provided for feeding material from thehopper discharge opening I7 laterally of the vehicle to relativelyopposite sides thereof. The cross conveyor 41 includes a material guide42 extending crosswise of the vehicle and having an intermediate portionpositioned to receive material delivered by the hopper con veyor 16. Asbest shown in FIGS. 2, 5 and 6, the channels 15b of the hopper projectforwardly beyond the end of the conveyor l6 and the material guide 42extends crosswise of the channels 15b at the discharge end of theconveyor so that material from the conveyor 16 is discharged through theopening 43 between the projecting ends of the channels 15b and the endof the conveyor I6, which opening is sometimes hereinafter referred toas the inlet opening for the cross conveyor. The cross conveyor alsoincludes first and second conveyor sections 44a and 44b disposed inend-to-end relation and arranged to feed material in relatively oppositedirections from the center thereof to their outer ends. The first andsecond conveyor sections 44a and 44b are preferably of the auger type,it being understood that other types of conveyor sections such asendless chain type conveyor sections could be used if desired. The augertype first and second conveyor sections 44a and 44b are in the form ofoppositely directed helical flights attached to a common shaft 44c andoperative, when the shaft is rotated in one direction (counterclockwiseas viewed in FIG. 4) to feed material from the adjacent ends of theconveyor sections toward the outer ends thereof. A disc or divider plate44d is advantageously provided between the adjacent ends of the augersections, with the plate having an outer diameter corresponding to thediameter of the auger sections. The material guide 42 of the crossconveyor is in the form of a trough preferably having a rounded bottomas shown in FIG. 4 contoured complementary to the underside of the augerflights, and first and second discharge openings 45a and 45b areprovided in the trough at relatively opposite sides of the vehicle andspaced outwardly from the material inlet 43 for the cross conveyor. Inorder to prevent accumulation of any material at the ends of thematerial guide, the ends may be made open or auxiliary openings such as46a and 46b can be provided adjacent the underside of the trough at theends thereof.

The material guide 42 is supported in fixed relation on the vehicle and,as shown, is supported by brackets 48 and 49 on the projecting ends ofthe channels lSb. The conveyor sections 44a and 44b are supported forshifting movement relative to the material guide 42 and inlet opening43. As best shown in FIG. 5, the ends of the auger shaft 440 aresupported by brackets 51 and 52 attached to slide plates 53 and 54. Theshaft is rotatably supported by bearings 55 in the brackets 51 and 52and the slide plates 53 and 54 are slidably supported on the top flanges42a and 42b of the material guide. Wear resistant pads 56 areadvantageously provided at the underside of the plates 53 and 54 andlugs 53a and 54a are attached to the plates 53 and 54 and underlie theflanges 42a and 42b to retain the slide plates in position on theflanges. The lugs 53a and 54d at each end of the auger areinterconnected as by tie bars 57and 58 which extend lengthwise of thematerial guide to cause the'slide plates 51 and 52 to move in unisonand, as shown in FIG. 4, the tie bars closely underlie the flanges 42aand 4215 respectively. A flow board 59 having a generally wedged-shapedcross section is secured as by welding to the tie bars 57 and 58 in aposition to overlie the divider plate 44d on the auger, as best shown inFIG. 5. The flow board is preferably arranged to project above thematerial guide 1 a distance such as to span the space between thematerial guide and the underside of the conveyor channels 15b, when theauger and flow board is shifted laterally from its intermediatepositiori shown in FIG. to a position in which the flow board isadjacent one or the other of the channels b. As will be seen, the lugs53a and 540 are conveniently attached to the plates 53 and 54 by boltsand, if it is desired to lock the auger to the material guide, it isonly necessary to tighten one of the bolts sufi'lcient to firmly clampone of the lugs to one of the flanges on the material guide. In order tofacilitate locking of the material conveyor sections in an adjustedposition relative to the guide, a lever 61 may be attached as by weldingto one of the bolts used for attaching the lugs to the blades. Bothconveyor sections are advantageously driven from a common motor and, asshown, an hydraulic motor 62 is mounted as by a bracket 63 on one of theguide plates 54 and connected through a gear reducer 65 and drive chain66 to a sprocket on the end of the auger shaft 44c. A chain housing 67,shown in phantom in FIG. 5, may be provided around the chain to pro tectthe same.

The auger is thus slidably supported on the material guide 42 forshifting movement relative thereto from an intermediate position asshown in FIG. 5, in which the adjacent ends of the auger sections arelaterally centered relative to the inlet opening 43, to first and secondlaterally displaced positions in which the flow board 59 is adjacent oneside or the other of the inlet opening 43. Stated otherwise, thematerial feed conveyors are shiftable from their midposition shown inFIG. 5 in either direction a distance at least equal to one-half thewidth of the inlet opening 43 measured in a direction crosswise of thevehicle.

While the conveyor sections can be shifted manually, a power-operatedmechanism is preferably provided to facilitate shifting. In theembodiment shown, a pair of linear fluid actuators 71 and 72 areprovided and each arranged so that one of the linear actuators 71 isoperative to shift the conveyor sections from their midposition to theright as viewed in FIG. 5 and back to its midposition, and the otheractuator 72 is arranged to shift the conveyor sections from theirmidposition to the left as viewed in FIG. 5 and back. As best shown inFIG. 2, linear actuator 72 has its piston rod 72b attached to astationary support such as one of the conveyor channels 15b and theother of the actuators 71 has its piston rod 71a attached as by abracket 73 to one of the slide plates such as 53. The cylinders 71a and72a of actuators 71 and 72 are secured together for movement with eachother as by a bracket or plate 75, shown in FIG. 5, and each actuatorhas a stroke equal to onehalf the overall stroke of the feed conveyorsections. Thus, when fluid pressure is applied to the blind end ofcylinder 72a, the feed conveyors will be moved to the right as viewed inFIG. 2 until the flow board 59 is positioned adjacent the right side ofthe inlet 43, and when fluid pressure is applied to the rod end ofcylinder 72a, the feed conveyors will be returned to their midpositionshown in FIG. 2. Similarly, when fluid under pressure is applied to therod end of cylinder 71a, the feed conveyors are moved to the left untilthe flow divider 59 is disposed adjacent the left side of the materialinlet 43, and when fluid pressure is applied to the blind end of thecylinder 71a, the feed conveyors will be again returned to theirmidposition. Hydraulic control valves described more fully hereinafterare provided for selectively operating the actuators 7] and 72. When theconveyor sections 43a and 43b are in their midpositions shown .in FIG.2,,material from the inlet opening 43 is delivered equally to bothconveyor sections and is conveyed by the sections equally to thedischarge openings 45a and 45b. When the conveyor sections are shiftedto the right as viewed in FIG. 2, all of the material from the inletopening 43 is fed to conveyor section 44b and is conveyed by thatconveyor to the outlet opening 45b. Conversely, when the conveyorsections are shifted to the left as viewedin FIG. 2, all of the materialfrom the inlet 43 is delivered to the conveyor section 44a and is fed bythat section to the discharge opening 450.

Spreaders 81a and 81b are provided for spreading the material from thedischarge openings 45a and 45b respectively. In order to avoid changingof the spread pattern upon shifting of the feed conveyor sections 440and 44b, the spreaders 81a and 81b are supported in fixed relation tothe vehicle and relative to the respective discharge openings 45a and45b. The spreaders are conveniently of like construction and are hereinshown in the form of broadcast-type spreaders having a rotary broadcastmember 82 with vanes 83 on the upper surface for impelling the materialdelivered to the broadcast member. The broadcast members are driventhrough a shaft 84 from a motor 85, conveniently of the hydraulic typeand the motor is supported as by a bracket 86 on hangers 87 secured asby brackets 88 (FIG. 4) to the material guide 42. As is well known, thethrow of the rotary broadcast spreaders can be increased and decreasedby raising and lowering the broadcast members relative to the surfacebeing covered and, for this purpose the hangers 87 are provided with aplurality of Iongitudinally spaced openings 89 (FIG. 3) to facilitatevertical adjustment of the spreaders relative to the ground. In order tofacilitate control of the direction of the spread pattern of thespreaders, a shroud 91 is provided for each broadcast member to extendpart way therearound, which shroud is supported as by brackets 92 and 93on the lower ends of the hangers 87. A means such as a material guidechute 95 is provided for guiding the material from the discharge openingonto the selected area of the broadcast member and, in order to controlthe location at which the material is deposited on the broadcast member,and hence to control the spread pattern, the material guide chute 95 isformed with an adjustable section 950. The section 95a is herein shownswingably supported at 95b on the fixed chute section 95 and a meanssuch as a lever 97 is provided for adjusting the position of the chutesection 95a. The lever 97 is formed with a plurality of openings 97aarranged to adjustably secure the lever to one of the hangers 87. Anadjustable deflector. 98 is also conveniently provided and is spacedfrom the adjustable chute section 95a to control the width of the streamdelivered to the broadcast member. As shown in FIG. 5, the deflector 98is pivotally mounted at 99 on a bracket 101 secured to one of thehangers 87 and an adjusting lever 102 is attached to the deflector andhas a plurality of openings 102a for adjustably securing the lever 102to a stationary support such as one of the hangers 87. Stabilizerbrackets 104 are attached to the hangers 87 and to a stationary part ofthe vehicle such as the support rail 33 to laterally stabilize thebroadcast spreader.

An hydraulic control system suitable for operating the distributorapparatus is schematically illustrated in FIG. 6. In the embodimentshown, a pair of pumps Ill and 112 are driven from a motor. This motormay be the truck engine 13 or an auxiliary engine 113 mounted on thevehicle as shown in FIG. I. The pumps Ill and 112 have inlets 114 and115 respectively communicated with a reservoir for hydraulic fluid 116.also conveniently mounted on the side of the vehicle as shown in FIG. 1.One of the pumps 112 is utilized to drive the longitudinal conveyor 16and the cross conveyor 44. As shown, the outlet line 117 from pump 112is connected through a flow control valve 118 and line 119 to thehydraulic drive motor 24 for the longitudinal conveyor 16. The crossconveyor is preferably driven at a rate proportional to the speed of thelongitudinal conveyor and, for this purpose. the outlet 121 from theconveyor drive motor 24 is connected to the inlet auger drive motor 62,the outlet of which is connected through a return line 122 to thereservoir. Valve 118 is preferably of the adjustable pressurecompensated type having its bypass line 118a connected to a reservoirreturn line 120. As is conventional, a relief valve 123 is provided forrelieving excess pump pressure and a selectively operable bypass valve124 is provided for bypassing the pump 112, when the materialdistributing apparatus is not in use. Valve 124 is a conventionaltwo-position on-off valve and may conveniently be operated as by asolenoid 1240.

An automatic control apparatus of the type more fully disclosed in theUS. Fat. to Wilder et al. No. 3,344,993 is advantageously provided forcontrolling the rate of flow of hydraulic fluid to the conveyor andauger drive motors 24 and 62 to maintain the speed of the samecorrelative with the speed of the vehicle. In general. this automaticcontrol apparatus includes a first sensing means 125 connected asthrough a shaft 126 to either the conveyor 16 or conveyor drive motor 24to produce an output signal correlative with the speed of the conveyor,and a second sensing means 127 connected as through a shaft 128 to atakeoff 129, such as the speedometer cable of the vehicle, to produce asecond signal correlative with the speed of the vehicle. The sensors 125and 126 can be of any suitable type and may, for example, beelectro-responsive devices for producing electrical signals correlativewith the speed of the vehicle and speed of the conveyor. Sensors 125 and127 are connected through conductors 131 and 132 respectively to acontrol unit 135 which compares the signals from the sensors 125 and 127and produces an output signal correlative with the difference betweenthe signals, which output signal is applied through conductors 136 to areversible motor 137 for operating the control valve 1 18. The controlunit 135 produces an output signal at lines 136 for driving the motor137 in a direction to increase or decrease the speed of the dischargemeans to maintain a preselected ratio between the speed of the dischargemeans and the speed of the vehicle. As disclosed in the aforementionedpatent, a means may be provided in the control system for varying theratio between the vehicle speed and conveyor speed which is to bemaintained by the control unit 135.

Pump 111 is utilized to drive the broadcast members and to also shiftthe feed auger 44. As diagrammatically shown in FIG. 6, the pump 111 hasan outlet line 141 connected through a flow control valve 142 to theinlet of one of the broadcast drive motors 85, the outlet of which drivemotor is connected through a line 144 to the inlet of the otherhydraulic drive motor, the outlet of which is in turn connected througha line 146 to a flow governor valve unit 150, described hereinafter. Inthe form shown the hydraulic motors 85 of the two broadcast members areconnected in series and are thus driven in unison, it being understoodthat the system could be otherwise arranged to individually drive themotors 85. As is conventional, a relief valve 147 and a bypass valve148, conveniently of the type having an electro responsive actuator148a, are provided to provide a relief for pump 11 1 and to selectivelybypas pump 112. Valve 142 is preferably of the pressure compensated typehaving an adjustable orifice which can be remotely adjusted by anelectro-responsive operator 142a for a selected rate of flow. The bypassline 142b for the valve 142 is connected to a reservoir return line 120and, when the orifice in valve 142 is adjusted to a selected setting,the pressure compensated valve operates to maintain a constant rate offlow to the hydraulic motors 85 determined by the orifice setting sothat the speed of the broadcast members and hence the area coveredthereby remains constant.

A pair of three-position flow control valves 151 and 152 are providedfor controlling operation of the linear actuators 71 and 72 respectivelyfor shifting the conveyor sections 44a and 44b. The controlled outletports of valve 151 are connected through lines 1510 and 151b to oppositeends of the actuator 71 and the controlled outlet lines of valve 152 areconnected through lines 152a and I52b to the opposite ends of cylinder72. Valves 151 and 152 are of the type which are arranged to block thecontrolled outlet ports when the valve was in its neutral position tothereby hold the cylinders in their moved position and these valves arepreferably of the type having an open center at the inlet side. Thefluid return from the hydraulic spreader drive motors is convenientlyutilized to operate the fluid actuators 71 and 72. As previouslydescribed, the return line 146 from the motors 85 is connected to theinlet of a flow governor valve unit 150. Valve unit is a flow dividervalve of a type which provides a constant governor flow at a controlledoutlet 150a and which operates to bypass excess fluid from the inlet toa bypass outlet 15%. As diagrammatically shown, the valve unit includesan adjustable pressure compensated valve 1500 which controls flow fromthe inlet to the controlled outlet 150a and which operates to bypassexcess fluid to the bypass outlet 150k and return line 153. A reliefvalve 150d is provided for the controlled outlet 1500 to prevent buildup of excess pressure at the controlled outlet and relief valve 150d isset to open at a pressure substantially below the operating pressure ofrelief valve 147 so that broadcast members can continue in operation.The controlled outlet 150a of valve 150 is connected through line 154 toone of the inlet ports of valve 152 and, when this valve is in itsmidposition, fluid under pressure is supplied through line 155 to one ofthe inlet ports of valve 151. The other inlet port of valve 151 isconnected through line 156 to the return line 122. Valves 151 and 152are of the spring-centered type and are conveniently solenoid operatedas by solenoids 151a and l51d and 152: and 152d respectively. Thearrangement is such that energization of one of the solenoids of one ofthe valves moves its valve into one position and energization of oneother solenoids moves the valve to its reverse position so that thevalves can be conveniently remotely controlled. As will be understood,the solenoids 142a, 148a, 124a, 151e, 151d, 152c and 152d can beoperated by remotely positioned switches conveniently located in the cab14 of the vehicle.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction and operation ofthe distributor apparatus will be readily understood. The longitudinalconveyor 16 advances material from the hopper to one end of .the hopperand the cross conveyor sections are arranged to feed material from theinlet opening 43 laterally of the vehicle. When the cross conveyorsections are.in their midposition shown in FIG. 5, material from theinlet 43 is advanced in both directions to both outlets 45a and 45b tobe distributed by both broadcast spreaders 82. When one of the flowcontrol valves such as valve 152 is operated to the right as viewed inFIG. 6, fluid under pressure is supplied to the blind end of actuator171 to extend the same and move the cross conveyor 44 to the left to theposition shown in FIG. 6. When the valve thereafter returns to itsneutral position, it operates to hold the cross conveyor in its shiftedposition until the valve 152 is moved to its other position that is tothe left as viewed in FIG. 6 to thereby return the cylinder and auger toits intermediate position shown in FIG. 5. Similarly, valve 151 isoperable to selectively shift the auger to the right as viewed in FIG.6.

When the cross conveyor is shifted either to the left or to the rightfrom its intermediate position, only one of the auger flights isoperable to feed material and there is no feeding of material by theother auger so that there is no build up or compaction of material atthe end of the material guide opposite the end from which material isbeing dispensed. The broadcast members 82 do not shift relative to thevehicle or the discharge openings 45a and 45b during shifting of thecross conveyor sections, so that the broadcast spreaders can be presetand provide the same spread pattern independent of the position of thefeed conveyors.

lclaim:

1. A material storage and discharge apparatus for use on a vehiclecomprising, a supply hopper for storing a quantity of material andhaving an outlet opening, discharge conveyor means communicating withsaid outlet opening and including first and second conveyor sections andmeans for driving said first and second conveyor sections to feedmaterial from a first end toward a second end of each conveyor sections,said first and second conveyor sections having said first ends thereofdisposed adjacent each other and said first and second conveyor sectionsextending from their respective first ends in relatively oppositedirections, means mounting said discharge conveyor means for shiftingmovement in a direction lengthwise thereof relative to said outletopening from anintermediate position in which said first ends of bothsaid first and second conveyor sections are positioned to receivematerial from said outlet opening selectively to at least one otherposition in which only the conveyor section is positioned to receivematerial from said outlet opening whereby the discharge conveyor meansis selectively operable to feed material to the outer end of one or boththe first and second conveyor sections.

2, A material storage and discharge apparatus according to claim 1wherein said discharge conveyor means includes a material feed augerhaving first and second oppositively directed flights forming said firstand second conveyor sections, and said drive means comprises a commondrive motor for simultaneously driving both said first and secondconveyor sections.

3. A material storage and discharge apparatus for use on a vehiclecomprising, a supply hopper for storinga quantity of material and havingan outlet opening and longitudinal conveyor means for conveyingmaterialto the outlet opening, cross conveyor means including first andsecond conveyor sections disposed in end-to-end relation and means fordriving said first and second conveyor sections to feed material from -afirst end toward a second end of each conveyor section, said conveyorsections having said first ends disposed adjacent each other andextending from their respective first ends in relatively oppositedirections, means mounting said cross conveyor means to extend crosswiseof said longitudinal conveyor means adjacent the outlet opening in saidsupply hopper, and means for shifting said cross conveyor means in adirection lengthwise thereof and crosswise of the first conveyor meansfrom an intermediate position in which the first ends of both said firstand second conveyor sections are positioned to receive material fromsaid outlet opening selectively to a first position in which only thefirst conveyor section is positioned to receive material from the outletopening, and to a second position in which only the second conveyorsection is positioned to receive material from the outlet openingwhereby the cross conveyor means is selectively operable to feedmaterial to the second end of one or the other or both of the first andsecond conveyor sections. I

4. A material storage and discharge apparatus according to claim 3wherein said cross conveyor means includes a material feed auger havingfirst and second oppositively directed flights forming said first andsecond conveyor sections, and said drive means comprises a common drivemotor for simultaneously driving both said first and second conveyorsections.

5. A material storage and discharge apparatus for use on a vehiclecomprising, a supply hopper for storing a quantity of material andhaving an outlet opening, an elongated material guide having anintermediate portion positioned to receive material from said outletopening, said material guide extending in relatively opposite directionsfrom said outlet opening and having first and second discharge outletsspaced in relatively opposite directions from said outlet opening,discharge conveyor means in said material guide including a first andsecond conveyor sections and means for driving said first and secondconveyor sections to feed 'material from a first end toward a second endof each conveyor section, said first and second conveyor sections havingtheir first ends disposed adjacent each other and extending from therespective first ends in relatively opposite directions along thematerial guide respectively toward said first and second dischargeoutlets, means supporting said discharge conveyor means for shiftingmovement lengthwise of said material guide from an intermediate positionin which the first ends of both the first and second conveyors arepositioned adjacent; said outlet opening to receive material therefromselectively to a first position in which only the first conveyor sectionis positioned to receive material from the outlet opening and to asecond position in which only the second conveyor section is positionedto receive material from the outlet opening.

6. A material storage and discharge apparatus according to claim 5including first and second rotary spreader means mounted adjacent saidfirst and second discharge outlets to spread material therefrom.

7. A material storage and discharge apparatus according to claim 5wherein said supply hopper has a feed conveyor means for feedingmaterial to said outlet opening, said discharge conveyor means extendingcrosswise of said feed conveyor means.

8. A material storage and discharge apparatus according to claim 5including fluid actuator means for shifting said discharge conveyormeans relative to said trough and valve means controlling said fluidactuator means.

9. A material storage and discharge apparatus according to claim 8whereinsaid fluid actuator means includes a first fluid actuator meansoperable to move the discharge conveyor means from said intermediateposition to said first position and back, and a second fluid actuatormeans'for moving said discharge conveyor means from said intermediateposition to said second position and back.

10. A material-distributing apparatus for use on a vehicle to enablespreading of material at one" or the other or both sides of the vehiclesimultaneously comprising an elongated material guide having a materialinlet adjacent the center thereof and first and second dischargeoutletsadjacent relatively opposite ends thereof, a material discharge augerhaving first and second sections with oppositely directed spiral flightsextending from adjacent the center of the auger toward opposite ends ofthe auger, means for rotating the auger in a direction to feed materialfrom the center toward opposite ends of the auger, means mounting theauger in the material guide for shifting movement in a directionlengthwise of the material guide between a centered position in whichthe center of the auger is approximately centered with relation to saidmaterial inlet to deliver material to both discharge outlets and firstand second displaced positions in which the center of the anger isoffset to one side or the other of said material inlet to delivermaterial to one or the other of said discharge outlets.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10 including first and second rotaryspreader apparatus mounted on the material guide adjacent said firstandsecond discharge outlets respectively for spreading material from therespective discharge outlet.

12. An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said material guide is inthe form of an open top trough, and carriage means slidably mounted onsaid trough supporting said auger for shifting movement lengthwise ofthe trough.

13. An apparatus according to claim 10 including first fluid actuatormeans for moving said auger means from said centered position to saidfirst displaced position and a second fluid actuator means for movingsaid auger from said centered position to said second displacedposition, and valve means for controlling flow of fluid to said firstand second fluid actuators.

12% UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Pcen311559.893 Dated Februaryl. 1971 Inventofls) Victor H. Gruben It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 7, line 21, before "conveyor" insert one Column 7, line 60,"oppositively" should be opposite] Signed and sealed this 15th day orJune 1971.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. WILLIAM E. SGHUYLER, Attesting OfficerCommissioner of Peter

1. A material storage and discharge apparatus for use on a vehiclecomprising, a supply hopper for storing a quantity of material andhaving an outlet opening, discharge conveyor means communicating withsaid outlet opening aNd including first and second conveyor sections andmeans for driving said first and second conveyor sections to feedmaterial from a first end toward a second end of each conveyor sections,said first and second conveyor sections having said first ends thereofdisposed adjacent each other and said first and second conveyor sectionsextending from their respective first ends in relatively oppositedirections, means mounting said discharge conveyor means for shiftingmovement in a direction lengthwise thereof relative to said outletopening from an intermediate position in which said first ends of bothsaid first and second conveyor sections are positioned to receivematerial from said outlet opening selectively to at least one otherposition in which only the conveyor section is positioned to receivematerial from said outlet opening whereby the discharge conveyor meansis selectively operable to feed material to the outer end of one or boththe first and second conveyor sections.
 2. A material storage anddischarge apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said discharge conveyormeans includes a material feed auger having first and secondoppositively directed flights forming said first and second conveyorsections, and said drive means comprises a common drive motor forsimultaneously driving both said first and second conveyor sections. 3.A material storage and discharge apparatus for use on a vehiclecomprising, a supply hopper for storing a quantity of material andhaving an outlet opening and longitudinal conveyor means for conveyingmaterial to the outlet opening, cross conveyor means including first andsecond conveyor sections disposed in end-to-end relation and means fordriving said first and second conveyor sections to feed material from afirst end toward a second end of each conveyor section, said conveyorsections having said first ends disposed adjacent each other andextending from their respective first ends in relatively oppositedirections, means mounting said cross conveyor means to extend crosswiseof said longitudinal conveyor means adjacent the outlet opening in saidsupply hopper, and means for shifting said cross conveyor means in adirection lengthwise thereof and crosswise of the first conveyor meansfrom an intermediate position in which the first ends of both said firstand second conveyor sections are positioned to receive material fromsaid outlet opening selectively to a first position in which only thefirst conveyor section is positioned to receive material from the outletopening, and to a second position in which only the second conveyorsection is positioned to receive material from the outlet openingwhereby the cross conveyor means is selectively operable to feedmaterial to the second end of one or the other or both of the first andsecond conveyor sections.
 4. A material storage and discharge apparatusaccording to claim 3 wherein said cross conveyor means includes amaterial feed auger having first and second oppositively directedflights forming said first and second conveyor sections, and said drivemeans comprises a common drive motor for simultaneously driving bothsaid first and second conveyor sections.
 5. A material storage anddischarge apparatus for use on a vehicle comprising, a supply hopper forstoring a quantity of material and having an outlet opening, anelongated material guide having an intermediate portion positioned toreceive material from said outlet opening, said material guide extendingin relatively opposite directions from said outlet opening and havingfirst and second discharge outlets spaced in relatively oppositedirections from said outlet opening, discharge conveyor means in saidmaterial guide including a first and second conveyor sections and meansfor driving said first and second conveyor sections to feed materialfrom a first end toward a second end of each conveyor section, saidfirst and second conveyor sections having their first ends disposedadjacent each other and extending from the respEctive first ends inrelatively opposite directions along the material guide respectivelytoward said first and second discharge outlets, means supporting saiddischarge conveyor means for shifting movement lengthwise of saidmaterial guide from an intermediate position in which the first ends ofboth the first and second conveyors are positioned adjacent said outletopening to receive material therefrom selectively to a first position inwhich only the first conveyor section is positioned to receive materialfrom the outlet opening and to a second position in which only thesecond conveyor section is positioned to receive material from theoutlet opening.
 6. A material storage and discharge apparatus accordingto claim 5 including first and second rotary spreader means mountedadjacent said first and second discharge outlets to spread materialtherefrom.
 7. A material storage and discharge apparatus according toclaim 5 wherein said supply hopper has a feed conveyor means for feedingmaterial to said outlet opening, said discharge conveyor means extendingcrosswise of said feed conveyor means.
 8. A material storage anddischarge apparatus according to claim 5 including fluid actuator meansfor shifting said discharge conveyor means relative to said trough andvalve means controlling said fluid actuator means.
 9. A material storageand discharge apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said fluid actuatormeans includes a first fluid actuator means operable to move thedischarge conveyor means from said intermediate position to said firstposition and back, and a second fluid actuator means for moving saiddischarge conveyor means from said intermediate position to said secondposition and back.
 10. A material-distributing apparatus for use on avehicle to enable spreading of material at one or the other or bothsides of the vehicle simultaneously comprising an elongated materialguide having a material inlet adjacent the center thereof and first andsecond discharge outlets adjacent relatively opposite ends thereof, amaterial discharge auger having first and second sections withoppositely directed spiral flights extending from adjacent the center ofthe auger toward opposite ends of the auger, means for rotating theauger in a direction to feed material from the center toward oppositeends of the auger, means mounting the auger in the material guide forshifting movement in a direction lengthwise of the material guidebetween a centered position in which the center of the auger isapproximately centered with relation to said material inlet to delivermaterial to both discharge outlets and first and second displacedpositions in which the center of the auger is offset to one side or theother of said material inlet to deliver material to one or the other ofsaid discharge outlets.
 11. An apparatus according to claim 10 includingfirst and second rotary spreader apparatus mounted on the material guideadjacent said first and second discharge outlets respectively forspreading material from the respective discharge outlet.
 12. Anapparatus according to claim 10 wherein said material guide is in theform of an open top trough, and carriage means slidably mounted on saidtrough supporting said auger for shifting movement lengthwise of thetrough.
 13. An apparatus according to claim 10 including first fluidactuator means for moving said auger means from said centered positionto said first displaced position and a second fluid actuator means formoving said auger from said centered position to said second displacedposition, and valve means for controlling flow of fluid to said firstand second fluid actuators.